Today Australian Discrimination Commissioner, Ben Gauntlett launched the UTS Entrepreneurs with Disability Report.

This significant report is the result of research undertaken by the University of Technology Sydney through an Australian Research Council (ARC) linkage grant, supported by cash and in-kind support from National Disability Services (NDS), Settlement Services Australia and Break-Thru People Solutions.

The report draws on analysis of ABS data on disability and workforce participation, interviews with more than 50 entrepreneurs with a disability, and a national survey of 160 people with disability about their workforce experiences.

Some key findings of the report:

• People with disability have significantly lower levels of employment than the general population, yet they are 40 per cent more likely to be self-employed.
• Those surveyed reported that self-employment and entrepreneurship was an important way to overcome environmental and social barriers, and discrimination, to achieve economic and personal independence across a wide variety of fields.
• The need for more inclusive start-up support and education programs, including incubators and accelerators to help those with disability establish their own businesses, and receive continuing professional development through education, mentoring and networking opportunities.

For further information on the research please contact Professor Simon Darcy 0408 969 371.